What I particularly liked was that, coming from California and not being involved in the New York scene, I developed my personal way, in my own way, at my own pace.

I like form and shape and strength in pictures.

It's important to let your subjects be themselves.

I did grow up next door to Steve McQueen, who was a very famous movie star at the time, but as a kid it didn't impress me. We always had great fun with him. He would take us out on Sundays on his motorcycles, riding around in the desert; he was like a second father.

It's always more comforting to know that in any given corner of any room or any location you're on, you can make a photograph that you'll appreciate.

I'm pretty selective. I generally edit the contact sheets and then do work prints. Because I have my own lab and printers, I can afford the luxury of going through the contact sheets for black-and-white, making up work prints, seeing them big, and honing them down.

Actually, when I first started dabbling in photography, I was still working for my parents as a salesman.